Key Verse: "And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees."
- 2 Samuel 5:23 KJV
When David made this enquiry he had just fought the
Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great
multitudes—but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight.
Note, however, that when they came a second time, David did not go up to
fight them without enquiring of the Lord. Once he had been victorious, and
he might have said, as many have in other cases, "I shall be victorious
again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall triumph
yet again. Why should I tarry to seek at the Lord's hands?" Not so with
David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not
venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired, "Shall I go
up against them?" He waited until God's sign was given.
Learn from David—to take no step without God. Christian,
if you would know the path of duty, take God for your compass; if you
would steer your ship through the dark billows, put the help into the hand
of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father
take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would
leave to His sovereign will—to choose and to command. The Puritan said, "As
sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own
fingers;" this is a great truth. Said another old divine, "He who goes
before the cloud of God's providence, goes on a fool's errand;" and so he
does. We must mark God's providence leading us; and if providence tarries,
tarry until providence comes. He who goes before providence, will be very
glad to run back again. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which
you shall go," is God's promise to His people. Let us, then, take all our
perplexities to Him, and say, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" Leave not
your chamber this morning, without enquiring of the Lord.
Are you Saved?